Jun

Kansas City Royals Rumors: Trade speculation on DeJesus, Podsednik, Guillen, Farnsworth, Ankiel

By Allan

Bob Dutton of The Kansas City Star says Royals outfielder David DeJesus is likely going to find his name in trade speculation this summer for the first time in his career.

“I hope the Royals want to keep me,” DeJesus said. “I really do, because I’ve been here since (being drafted in) 2000. But I understand it’s a business, too.”

DeJesus is making $4.7 million this season and $6 million next year unless the Royals exercise a $500,000 buyout.

Dutton says teams have scouts giving DeJesus a hard look.

General manager Dayton Moore anticipates “a busy trade market” and vows “we’ll evaluate what comes our way if anything does come our way.” And while he veers away from talking specifics, he does acknowledge the Royals have “some nice pieces” if opportunities present themselves.

Other trade candidates the Royals have include outfielder Scott Podsednik, designated hitter José Guillen, reliever Kyle Farnsworth, utilityman Willie Bloomquist and starting pitchers Brian Bannister and Kyle Davies. Other possibilities are third baseman Alberto Callaspo and outfielder Rick Ankiel.
Here’s what opposing scouts have suggested:

•Podsednik should draw interest from clubs seeking a lower-cost outfielder than DeJesus. He projects mostly as a short-term rental for a contender, about $600,000 over the final two months, because his contract is structured to make him a likely free agent after the season.

•Guillen has shown sufficient bounce-back punch after an injury-filled 2009 to generate interest if a contender finds itself with a hole to fill. That might not happen until August, but he is likely to clear waivers (which allows him to be traded after the July 31 deadline). He is in the final season of a three-year, $36 million contract, which means a two-month rental would cost about $4 million. After that, even less.

•Farnsworth is gaining value as a front-end setup reliever and he, too, projects as a short-term rental. His contract contains a club option next season for $5.25 million with a $500,000 buyout, but he would cost a club only about $2 million for two months.

•Bloomquist drew interest last year at the trading deadline and is the type of do-everything type that contenders love down the stretch. He would only cost about $600,000 over the final two months before becoming a free agent.

•Bannister and Davies also generated offers last year and can be viewed as longer-term fits. Bannister is making $2.3 million but won’t be eligible for arbitration until after 2012. Davies is making $1.8 million and has another year of arbitration before gaining free-agent eligibility.

•Callaspo is making believers at third, but he’s about to get pricier. He is making $460,000 but could jump toward $2 million or more after the season in his first year of arbitration eligibility.

•Ankiel was signed in the offseason with an eye toward flipping him before the deadline. He’s been hurt since late April but could build some trade value if he returns soon and gets hot. He would cost about $1.1 million as a two-month rental, including the $500,000 buyout for next year to avoid a $6 million option.